Voorspelling: Radicale Nieuwe Klimaatzones

"If global warming continues unabated, many of the world's climate zones may disappear by 2100, leaving new ones in their place unlike any that exist today, according to a new study. Researchers compared existing patterns of temperature and precipitation with those that may exist at the turn of the century, based on scenarios put forth in the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue rising at the same rate, up to 39 percent of Earth's continental surface may experience totally new climates, primarily in the tropics and adjacent latitudes as warmer temperatures spread toward the poles."

Bron:www.sciam.com

Smeltende Noordpool bron van olie en conflict.

"The latest report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the ice cap is warming faster than the rest of the planet and ice is receding, partly due to greenhouse gases. It’s a catastrophic scenario for the Arctic ecosystem, for polar bears and other wildlife, and for Inuit populations whose ancient cultures depend on frozen waters.

But some see a lucrative silver lining of riches waiting to be snatched from the deep, and the prospect of timesaving sea lanes that could transform the shipping industry the way the Suez Canal did in the 19th century.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the Arctic has as much as 25 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas. Moscow reportedly sees the potential of minerals in its slice of the Arctic sector approaching $2 trillion."

Bron:www.MSNBC.com

Hersenen krimpen door warmer klimaat?

"two head shrinkers at the University at Albany will soon publish research that suggests the human brain grew dramatically as our ancestors adapted to colder temperatures. Jessica Ash and Gordon Gallup studied 109 fossilized skulls from different latitudes to determine that "climate may have been an important selective force behind the evolution of human cranial capacity,"

Bron: www.wired.com

Airbus 50% minder brandstof in 2020

"manufacturer Airbus is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in aircraft fuel consumption by 2020. Airbus vice-president, environmental affairs, Philippe de Saint-Aulaire, said the manufacturer was looking at airframe improvements to provide about 25 per cent of the reduction, while between 10 and 15 per cent would come from engine manufacturers. "The remainder, about 10 per cent, will come from air traffic control - to ensure there are more direct flights, to ensure that aircraft are not (circling) around the airport before they land," he said.

The Airbus environmental boss expects airframe improvements to come from weight reduction with the greater use of composites, aerodynamic improvements, and new systems that would allow the aircraft to operate more efficiently."

Bron: www.theaustralian.news.com.au

Fortune's meest groene bedrijven

"The latest issue of Fortune magazine will be its first-ever green issue, which includes a list of ten companies that go beyond what the law requires to operate in an environmentally responsible way.

The companies cited by Fortune as being ahead of the learning curve on the strategic value of environmentalism in their industries include, in no particular order: Honda, Continental Airlines, Suncor, Tesco, Alcan, PG&E, S.C. Johnson, Goldman Sachs, Swiss RE and Hewlett-Packard. In separate stories, Fortune also notes the environmental efforts of Patagonia and DuPont, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Bron: www.greenbiz.com

Katalysator verandert CO2 in brandstof

"A new catalyst that can split carbon dioxide gas could allow us to use carbon from the atmosphere as a fuel source in a similar way to plants.

"Breaking open the very stable bonds in CO2 is one of the biggest challenges in synthetic chemistry," says Frederic Goettmann, a chemist at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany. "But plants have been doing it for millions of years."

Plants use the energy of sunlight to cleave the relatively stable chemical bonds between the carbon and oxygen atoms in a carbon dioxide molecule. In photosynthesis, the CO2 molecule is initially bonded to nitrogen atoms, making reactive compounds called carbamates. These less stable compounds can then be broken down, allowing the carbon to be used in the synthesis of other plant products, such as sugars and proteins."

Bron: www.newscientist.com

Ban Ki Moon (VN): Oorlog door klimaatverandering

"In coming decades, changes in our environment and the resulting upheavals from droughts to inundated coastal areas to loss of arable land are likely to become a major driver of war and conflict"

Bron: www.msnbc.com

Museumn8 over klimaatverandering

"Het klimaat verandert ingrijpend. Nu dat vaststaat is het tijd om na te denken over oplossingen. Niet doemdenken, maar vooruitdenken. Deze editie van de nachtsalon* wil bijdragen aan een constructieve benadering van dit ‘hot topic’. Op www.n8.nl staan alvast wat wereldideeën ter inspiratie.

De nachtsalon van 9 maart vindt plaats in Energetica, nationaal publiekscentrum voor energie. Dit museum is gevestigd in een spectaculair gebouw: de eerste elektriciteitscentrale van Amsterdam, gebouwd in 1903. Dit museum vormt ook het uitgangspunt voor het thema van de nachtsalon: duurzaamheid op het gebied van energie, ondernemen, eten en kleding. Daarbij geldt inmiddels ‘Ecologie = Economie’: wie in de toekomst rendabel wil ondernemen maakt geen verschil meer tussen winstbejag en een ecologisch duurzame werkwijze"

Ik ondersteun dit project van harte.

Meer over afval=voedsel in een oude post van mij.

Meer info over de nacht: www.n8.nl

Bron: Stichting Museumnacht Amsterdam via een email aan mij.

Gloeilamp in Europa op de tocht.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The world's three largest light bulb makers said Thursday they will push European consumers to switch to energy-saving bulbs in a bid to cut carbon dioxide emissions that are believed to contribute to global warming.

The statement by the European Lamp Companies Federation, whose members include General Electric, Siemens and Royal Philips Electronics, did not give a concrete time frame or target. (GE is the parent of NBC/Universal, which is a partner in MSNBC.com.)

They said their strategy would include "public incentives to encourage consumers to purchase more efficient products and setting performance standards that will eliminate the least efficient products from the market."

Bron: www.msnbc.com